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09 August 2016

Fitzgerald Confirms Further Progress in Pool for Lucan Project

Lucan TD,​ Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald, has
welcomed another significant step in the Design process for the new Swimming
Pool for Lucan.

"I am glad to see the Council has forwarded
their recommended Consultant Design Team to the Department of Transport,
Tourism and Sport for their approval. This is a significant step in the
planning and design stages and I wish to commend the Council on their
progression of this project," said Fitzgerald.

Earlier this year, Government approved funding for
a Swimming Pool for Lucan under the National Swimming Pool Funding Programme
2016-18. The re-opening of this fund for the first time since 2000 gave the
Council the necessary support to build a pool after 12 years of waiting for
Lucan residents.

"This is a project in the hearts and minds of
many residents and it has been a real example of what we can achieve when we
work together. I initiated a meeting between the South Dublin County Council
CEO Danny McLoughlin and the then Minister for Sport Michael Ring, to kick
start the project at official level again. This meeting provided a turning
point in making a swimming pool a reality when an agreement in principle was
reached by both parties that, if Government funding became available, the
Council would provide the additional funding and build a pool. Government was
able to re-open the National Swimming Pool Funding Programme following a
feasibility study and the Council approved €400,000 in funding for design and
planning as well as a commitment to fund the build in their Capital Programme
2016- 18. The result of this was the awarding of funding to the Council under
the re-opened Programme, allowing them to finally deliver this project.

"I would like to acknowledge the commitment of
local Councillors, in particular my colleagues Cllrs Vicki Casserly and William
Lavelle, who kept the pool to the forefront of the Council’s agenda. I was
pleased to play my part and ensure that the pool finally came to fruition and
want to thank the Council for their work in putting proposals, designs and
plans together. They are certainly working to deliver it without delay and hope
to have it completed in Autumn 2017," concluded Fitzgerald.